Jason Roberts' goal was cancelled out by Heidar Helguson as Wigan lost further
ground in the Division One promotion race at battling Watford.
Record signing Roberts grabbed his third goal in two games, firing Wigan into
a 13th-minute lead when he drilled home Jason De Vos' knockdown from Jimmy
Bullard's corner, but Helguson equalised 11 minutes later.
Two sides with everything left to play for at opposite ends of the table
created few other openings in a stop-start affair.
Canadian international de Vos, preferred to Ian Breckin at the heart of
Wigan's defence following a one-match ban, made his aerial power tell again soon
after Roberts struck, forcing Alec Chamberlain to save from distance as Paul
Jewell's side chased a second.
But Watford, stung by last week's capitulation at Ipswich, are battling to
avoid the drop and hit back through Helguson with their first effort on goal
against the run of play.
The Icelandic striker outjumped a flat-footed Filan to head home Lee Cook's
outswinging corner off the underside of the crossbar in the 24th minute.
Play-off chasing Wigan would have regained the lead but for a fine save by
Chamberlain soon after, the Watford keeper at full stretch to parry Roberts'
right-foot 20-yard shot.
Watford's Scott Fitzgerald and Lee McCulloch of Wigan then traded wayward
long-range drives before Nathan Ellington curled one wide from 25 yards towards
the end of a first half most notable for its dearth of clear-cut chances.
Watford stormed out of the blocks in the second-half with Helguson leading the
charge.
First the 28-year-old volleyed left-footed over the crossbar, then saw his
close-range header from Paul Devlin's cross saved by Filan, while Fitzgerald's
30-yard shot was blocked by de Vos.
Gavin Mahon and Fitzgerald again tested Filan from distance but the Australian
was equal to both and the impressive Mycah Hyde sent one fizzing wide.
Lee Cook was next to try his luck from the edge of the penalty area, but his
effort was blocked by Nicky Eaden as Wigan soaked up all Watford could throw at
them.
Watford boss Ray Lewington sent on Neal Ardley and Hameur Bouazza for Mahon
and Fitzgerald, but it was Wigan who began to threaten.
Bullard crashed a 25-yard shot into Marcus Gayle and Chamberlain did well to
thwart McCulloch, who curled one in form an angle, but Watford held on for a
deserved point.
Teams:
Watford: Chamberlain, Baird, Dyche, Gayle, Mayo, Devlin, Hyde,
Mahon (Ardley 73), Cook, Helguson, Fitzgerald (Bouazza 73).
Subs Not Used: Webber, Doyley, Pidgeley.
Goals: Helguson 24.
Wigan: Filan, Eaden, De Vos, Jackson (Breckin 45), Baines,
Liddell, Bullard, Jarrett, McCulloch, Jason Roberts,
Ellington (Mahon 69).
Subs Not Used: Neil Roberts, Walsh, Farrelly.
Goals: Jason Roberts 13.
Att: 13,382
Ref: P Danson (Leicestershire).
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